Blank-preparing apparatus



F. RlcKs BLANK PREPARING APPARATUS March 22, 1927. 1, 621,6OZ

Filed Ot. 51, 19 22 Patented Mar. 22, I927.

, U STATES FRED nicks,

OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGN'OR TO UNITED snon ivracnrnnny CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BLANK-PREPARING APPARATUS.

Application fi1ed October This invention relates to machines or apparatus for preparing or forming heel stiffeners or counters for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes. It is one object of the invention to provide apparatus adapted for use in forming heel stifiteners which are molded only over a limited area correspond ing substantially to the rear end face of a form over which the upper materials are to be shaped or molded, as described and claimed in Letters Patent No. 1573,124, granted upon my application on Feb. 16, 1926. It will be recognized, however, that in various novel aspects the invention is not limited to means for forming stiifeners of that particular character.

The invention, in one aspect, provides novel means for shaping a stiffener blank over a form by stretching it lengthwise and by molding it. The stretching means, While assisting in positioning the blank in proper relation to the molding means, stretches the blank to such an extent that the heel stiff ener inthe completed shoe will closely conform to the heel of the wearers foot and will hold its shape in the wear of the shoe. In the construction herein shown there are provided grippers which grip the ends of the blank at opposite sides of an inner form which is moved relatively to the grippers to stretch the blank, in combination with an outer form which co-operates with the inner form to mold the intermediate portion only of the blank while the latter is held in stretched condition by the grippers.

' NVhil-e the combination of stretching and molding means thus constitutes animportant feature of the inventiomnovel features are also to be recognized in. the construction of the means for stretching the blank and in the construction of the means for molding the blank as above set forth.

The different features of the invention will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a blank-shaping apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the operating parts, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view showing the shaping of a blank inthe apparatus; and

Fig. 4: is a view showing the novel stiffener formed as illustrated in Fig. 3.

31, 1922, Serial No. 593,219, and in Great Britain Novemberfll, 1921.

' The novel apparatus, one form of which Q is shown in the drawings, comprises a base 20 and a standard 22,'which may be integral with or secured to the base. A shaping device comprising an outer form or mold2i rests on a plurality of spring-pressed plung ers 26, so that it may readily be exchanged for forms ofdifi'erentsizes. The bottom of the form 24 may be formed with suitable depressions to receive the tops of the plungers 26; A cavity 28 in the form is shaped to correspond to the heel end-face of a last or mold.

To cooperate with the outer form, an inner form or mold member 30 is mounted on, a

plunger 32 sliding in the standard 22, the plunger being operated in any suitable manner, as by a hand lever 34: pivoted to the standard at 36 and connected to the plunger by a link 38. The plunger 32 is normally held in its upper position by a counter- Weight 40 on the lever 34, which rests on a bracket 42 secured to the standard 22. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, form 30 and thebottom of plunger 32 are formed with cooper 5 ating dovetailportions, so that the form may be slidingly removed when a form of a different size is needed. The form is locked in position by a spring-pressed plunger 44; carried by the plunger 32 and seating in a recess 35 in the top of the form 30. To tension the blanks about the inn-er form 30, two pairs of jaws are provided, each consisting of a fixed member '50 carried by standard 22 and a member 52 pivoted to the 9 fixed member at 54. The member 52 of each pair is urgedinto open position by a spring 56. The jaws are closed by cam'surfaces 58 (Fig; 2) on the sides of the plunger 32, each of the cam surfaces operatingon a cam roll 60 carried by a plunger-62 sliding in the endof one of the members 52. Motion of the cam roll is transmitted to the member 52 through a spring 64, and the tension ofthe spring isdetermined by lock nuts 66. i r The position of each blank is determined by a gage 7 O sliding in the standard 22, and arranged to be clamped in adjusted position by a set screw 72, this gage having abroad vertical face spaced from the inner form a, distance substantially equal to the width of the inturned flange of the counter in the finished shoe. p

In operation, a blank '80 is bent around the inner form 30 by an operator, with each end between the members 50, 52 of one of the pairs of jaws, and with its bottom edge in engagement with the gage 7 0 (Fig. 8). l/Vhile the blank is held in this position with one hand, the other hand brings down lever 34 until the cam surfaces-58 close the jaws on the ends of the blank. Thereafter the operator may utilize both hands to bring the lever 34- down the rest of the way, first stretching the blank by tensioning it longitudinally over the form while the jaws hold its ends with an unslip-ping grip, and

r then substantially at the end of the tensioning or stretching operation forming a local ized bulge or molded portion 82 by compressing the central part of the blank between the forms 24, 30, while the blank is held under tension by the jaws. V s

The above-described construction concentrates most of the stretching or drafting action on the mid portion of the blank. As an alternative construction, the j aws, 50, 52 may be formed to grip one edge, as for example the top edge, of each blank more firmly than the remainder of the blank, so that the opposite edge and the central part of the blank may slip, under a tension operation, and an .sutficient entirely to remove the stretch from the edge so gripped.

While a particular apparatus has been described, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention by such description, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A counter-molding apparatus comprising, in combination, an inner convex form, means to engage with an unslipping grip opposite ends of a counter blank and to tension it longitudinally over the inner form, and an outer concave form to mold the central part only of the counter blank against the inner form.

2. A counter-molding apparatus comprising, in combination, an inner convex form, jaws to grasp and hold opposite ends of a counter blank with the blank in the same position relatively to said form in which it is initially presented, the jaws and the inner form being relatively movable to tension the blank longitudinally over the inner form, and means to mold the central partonly of the blank against the inner form.

3. A counter-molding apparatus, comprising, in combination, an inner convex form, means to grasp opposite ends of a counter blank and tension it longitudinally over the inner form, said means comprising opposite pairs of jaws arranged to maintain their hold on the blank throughout the molding outer concave form to mold the central part of the blank against the inner form, the inner and outer forms being constructed and arranged to engage only a localized portion in the center of the blank.

4. A stiffener-preparing apparatus comprising, in combination, molding means, tensioning means, and an operating device to subject a blank first to the operation of the tensioning means and substantially at the end of the tensioning operation to that of the molding means.

5. A stiffener-preparing apparatus comprising, in combination, molding means, tensioning means constructed to engage the ends of a stiffener blank with an unslipping grip, and an operating device first to subject a blank to the operation of the tensioning means and while it is held tensioned thereby to subject it to the operation of the molding means.

6. A stiiiener-molding apparatus comprising. in combination, means to stretch a stifi'ener blank longitudinally before it is molded and throughout the molding operation, and means for operating on the blank for molding it.

.T. A stiiiener-preparing apparatus comprising, in combination, an inner form, means to grasp opposite ends of a blank bent over said form in the position relatively to the form in which the blank is initially presented to the apparatus, a shaping device, and means first relatively to move the form and said grasping means to stretch a blank and then relatively to move the shaping device and the stretched blank to shape a part of the blank.

8. A stiffener-preparing apparatus comprising, in combination, an inner form, jaws arranged. to grasp opposite ends of a blank bent over said form with said ends extending forwardly lengthwise of the form, a. shaping device, and means first to close the jaws on a blank and relatively to move the form and said jaws to stretch the blank and then to engage the blank with the shaping device to shape a part of the blank.

9. A stifitener-preparing apparatus comprising, in combination, an outer form or mold, a plunger and an inner form carried hereby, and devices located at the sides of the inner form in positions remote from the outer form to stretch a blank over the inner form while it is being molded between the two forms.

10. A stiffener-preparing apparatus comprising. in combination. an outer form or mold. an inner form, and st-iiiener-engaging jaws constructed to grip and hold the ends only oi: a stiffener, the jaws and inner form being relatively movable to stretch a blank over the inner form while it is being molded between the two forms.

11. A molding apparatus comprising, in con'ihina i, ported outer form, a plunger and an inner a horizontal yieldingly-supsurfaces and an inner blank placed about form carried thereby, jaws on opposite sides of the plunger to hold with anunslipping grip opposite ends of a blank so that movement of the plunger'will stretch the blank, and a lever to move the plunger to stretch the blank and mold it between theinner and outer forms.

12. A molding apparatus comprising, in combination, a horizontal yieldingly-sup ported outer form, a plunger having. cam

jaws on opposite sides of the plunger operated by the cam surfaces to grasp and hold opposite ends of a blank so that movement of the plunger will stretch the blank, and a lever to move the plunger to stretch the blank and mold it between the inner and outer forms.

13. A stilfener-preparing apparatus comprising, in combination, an outer form or mold, a plunger and an inner form carried thereby, devices to stretch a blank over the inner form while it is being molded between the two forms, and a gage for engaging the bottom edge of the blank blank between the forms.

14. A molding apparatus comprising, in combination, relatively-movable inner and outer molding forms, members to grasp op posite ends of a blank bent over the inner form, and-a gage having a broad surface parallel to the direction of relative movementof the forms for positioning a bent the inner form with its to be grasped by said to position the ends in positions members.

15. A molding apparatus comprising, combination, a horizontal yieldingly-supported outer form, a vertically sliding plunger and an inner form carried thereby, jaws on opposite sides of the plunger to hold opposite ends of a blank so that movement of the plunger to move the plunger to stretch the blank and mold it between the inner and outer forms,

and a gage having a broad vertical surface behind the forms to be engaged by the edge of a. blank bent around the inner form with its ends in said jaws.

16. A blank-stretching device for use in making stiffeners comprlsmg, 1n combma tion, a form, means to grasp opposite ends of a blank bent around the form, and means for first operating said means and then moving the form with respect thereto in a manner to stretch a blank held thereby.

17. A blank-stretching device for use in form carried thereby, 1

will stretch the blank, a lever making stilfeners comprising, in. combination, a movable blankengaging device, jaws operated by movement of said device for gripping and holding the ends of a blank bent around said device, and means to move the device relatively to the jaws to stretch a blank held by the jaws. I

18. A blank-stretching device for use in making stiffener-s comprising, in combination,a plunger having cam surfaces and a form carried thereby, jaws operated by said surfaces to grip and hold the ends of a blank bent around the form, and a lever for operating the plunger to move the form to stretch a blank held by the jaws.

19. A blank-stretching device for use in 7 the form with respect thereto in a manner.

to stretch a blank held thereby, and a gage having a broad surface parallel to the direction of movement of the form for positioning a blank bent around the form with its ends in positions to be grasped by said means.

20. A blank-stretching device for use in making stilfen-ers comprising, in combination, a plunger having cam surfaces and a form carried thereby, jaws operated by said surfaces to grip and hold the ends of a blank bent around the form, a lever for operating the plunger to move the form to stretch a blank held by thejaws, and a gage behind the plunger with a broad surface parallel to its direction of movement to position a blank bent around the form with its ends in the aws.

21; In a machine for formingheel stiffeners or counters, means for molding the intermediate portion only of a counter blank movement of said members to mold the intermediate portion of the blank, and means for holding the'end portions of the blank during the molding operation without molding effect thereon. 5

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED HICKS.

.over an area corresponding substantially to V 

